The Emory University men's soccer team had five players recognized Tuesday morning as the University Athletic Association announced its All-Conference teams.
Junior Lorenzo Avalos highlighted the selections as he became the third consecutive Eagle to be named the league's Offensive Player of the Year. It is the first time the Eagles have boasted the Offensive MVP in three consecutive seasons after Colton Myers and Ryan Winkler won the award in previous seasons.
Avalos was one of two Emory players on the All-UAA First Team as he was joined by graduate student Ignacio Cubeddu. In addition, three Eagles were honored with Honorable Mention status: graduate students, Jack Burgess and Danny Moya, as well as senior Adeyemi Oni.
In his third season, Avalos was one of six Eagles to finish the regular season with double digit points as he was fourth on the team with 15 with seven goals and one assist. Avalos did most of his damage inside conference play, recording five goals for 10 points as he led the Eagles to a third place finish at 3-1-3. He scored in four consecutive UAA games including a brace against NYU on October 18th.
Cubeddu joins him as a First Team selection following a standout debut season with the Eagles. After joining the team as a graduate transfer, Cubeddu ignited the Emory offense with 28 points in 16 games, leading the team with 11 goals with five acting as game winners. He finished the regular season as the UAA leader in GWG, points per game (1.75), shots per game (4.94) and total points. He was named the United Soccer Coaches National Player of the Month in September after notching 10 goals in non-conference play while adding four assists. His standout performance came on September 27th when he tied the program record with four goals in a single game in a win over Sewanee.
Oni and Burgess help strengthen the Eagles' offensive threats as both players will enter the postseason as team leaders in points with Oni ranking third on the team with 15 points through seven goals and one assist and Burgess notching three goals and five assists for 11 points. Both Eagles have appeared in each of the team's 16 games this season while making double digits appearances in the starting lineup. For Moya, he has played in 17 games during his first season and collected his first collegiate assist earlier this season. He finished the regular season as one of four Eagles to play at least 1,290 minutes in the field.
The Eagles will be making their third straight appearance in the NCAA tournament and will travel to Farmville, Virginia to oppose Maryville in the first round. The opening rounds this weekend will be hosted by Hampden-Sydney College.
